Is this something to worry about - Ibanez AZ - neck joint?

icu81b4

A friend of mine has just bought a Ibanez AZ model with a Monkey Pod top and titanium saddles, 

But what do you think to this? Is it just the varnish? 

There is a smaller one on the other side too.

Secondhand from a remote guitar shop, he'd asked for all damage to be photoed so he could see for himself. 

The snaps they sent showed hardly anything. 

 They've offered a full refund but he likes the guitar!!!

If he knew it wasn't structural he'd keep it.

He wanted a techy to take the neck off to see it, but the local guys aren't accepting work during this pandemic. 

Funkfingers

Looks like just the varnish to me.

Is it my eyesight or are the edge of neck and the pocket out of parallel? 

grungebob

The cracks are just in the lacquer it’s not the wood as it doesn’t run in the direction of the grain. That’s just my opinion though I’m bound to be wrong lol 

icu81b4

Funkfingers said:

Is it my eyesight or are the edge of neck and the pocket out of parallel? 

The photo was sent to me, but I think it's just the angle, otherwise my mate would have noticed. 

ICBM

Pure lacquer crack, nothing to worry about at all. Very common in this exact place.

daisie_guitar

Very common indeed but it does lower its market value, he should at the very least ask for a partial refund.

Funkfingers

icu81b4 said:

… but he likes the guitar!!! 

If he knew it wasn't structural he'd keep it.

The usual explanations for that sort of finish crack are natural expansion and contract of the wood beneath or over-tightening of the neck anchoring plate screws.

Any guitar that is going to be regularly played at rehearsals and gigs will be exposed to the risk of damage. I see little point getting precious about it.

Kittyfrisk

I'm more perturbed at the frankly heinous black ring fill on the side fretmarker... 

skunkwerx

Kittyfrisk said:

I'm more perturbed at the frankly heinous black ring fill on the side fretmarker... 

Haha its a Q marker that one.. 

Fretboard goes up and over the last two! 

stonevibe

I have same cracks on mine from new, it is just cosmetic and usually occurs when you pick up guitar by its neck and move it without supporting the body. 

daisie_guitar

Funkfingers said:

icu81b4 said:

… but he likes the guitar!!! 

If he knew it wasn't structural he'd keep it.

The usual explanations for that sort of finish crack are natural expansion and contract of the wood beneath or over-tightening of the neck anchoring plate screws.

Any guitar that is going to be regularly played at rehearsals and gigs will be exposed to the risk of damage. I see little point getting precious about it.

It's really just the tightness of neck pocket (that does benefit tone), nothing to do with usage (really, you won't see these cracks on vintage strats), but manufacturers sometimes (well, always) fail to disclose the tradeoffs taken in the design, so he'd be right to ask for a partial refund.

icu81b4

daisie_guitar said:

Funkfingers said:

icu81b4 said:

… but he likes the guitar!!! 

If he knew it wasn't structural he'd keep it.

The usual explanations for that sort of finish crack are natural expansion and contract of the wood beneath or over-tightening of the neck anchoring plate screws.

Any guitar that is going to be regularly played at rehearsals and gigs will be exposed to the risk of damage. I see little point getting precious about it.

It's really just the tightness of neck pocket (that does benefit tone), nothing to do with usage (really, you won't see these cracks on vintage strats), but manufacturers sometimes (well, always) fail to disclose the tradeoffs taken in the design, so he'd be right to ask for a partial refund.

Ok I'll let him know your thoughts - Thanks everyone, He's opted to keep it. 

sweepy

I’d be more worried about the build quality, looks very rough for an Ibanez

BGG

My AZ has one , so got a decent discount

fretmeister

ICBM said:

Pure lacquer crack, nothing to worry about at all. Very common in this exact place.

This.

I've had quite a lot of Ibbys and every one of them had it.

Joe123

Yup. One of my guitar got it too..it is my ready-to-be played guitars which is not placed in my hardcase..all others in the hardcase are fine..so, probably humidity and temp probably play a role too..I believe that is actually the reason why Ibanez changed to AANJ..but it still happened, though much more uncommon. OP, if that is new, you should ask the dealer to have a refund or return it..because,IMHO, the crack may get worse someday..

DefaultM

It will have happened in the post. Any kind of knock and there's a chance it will happen with an RG. I had my hardcase leaning against a wall, it slipped and fell flat, and when I opened it this had happened. 15 years later its still fine.